PSC 102: Comparative Politics

Outline for Exam One, to take place Thursday 16th September 2010
(be sure to also review your in-class quizzes!)

INTRODUCTION: COMPARATIVE POLITICS

1. Tasks:
a. Define
b. Describe
c. Explain / analyze
d. Predict
e. Prescribe
2. Approaches
a. Quant/Qual
b. Civility
c. Analysis v commentary
3. Themes
a. Unit of analysis
b. Institutions: government
i. Why?
1. Hobbes
2. Locke
3. Rouseau
4. Modern rationale
5. Anarchy
ii. Regime types
1. Feudalism.
2. Authoritarianism
3. Democracy
c. Culture/behavior
i. Almond & Verba
1. Participant
2. Subject
3. Parochial
ii. Controversy
iii. Social cleavages

DEVELOPMENT
1. Defining development
a. political development
b. human development
c. terms: 3rd world, Global South, etc.
2. Modernization
3. Dependency
4. Population
5. Sachs vs Easterly

LEGISLATURES
1. General
a. Role in political development
b. John Locke & property
c. De jure v de facto
d. Party discipline
2. Elections & seating representatives in legislatures
a. SMD-P, aka FPTP
b. PR
c. SMD-M
d. MMD, or First Few Past the Post
3. Function
 a. To legislate
b. Check other branches
c. Debate
d. Communicate
e. recruit, educate, socialize?
4. Legislature v Executive

EXECUTIVE
1. Symbolic/ head of state
2. Political/ head of government
3. Order! Order!
a. Symbolism
b. Executive’s political tasks & legislature
4. Possible configurations of any Government
a. Majority
b. Minority
c. Coalition
2. Bureaucracy
a. Relationship with Executive
b. Weber’s characteristics
c. civil service with job security

THE JUDICIARY
1. apolitical
2. resolve conflicts
3. judicial review

ORGANIZED CITIZENS
1. Collective action and rational choice
2. Political parties
a. Corporatism v Pluralism
b. Mass v Cadre
c. Election types
3. Interest groups
4. Social movements
5. Groups, citizens, & the political system
6. Violent groups
a. Praetorianism , Jr. officers
b. Guerillas
c. Terrorists

INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS
1. Socialization
a. Acquisition
b. Agents
2. Recruitment
a. Participation
b. Motivation
c. Knowledge
d. Resources